California nurse registration

begalli · Sep 25, 2004

I understand from the Board that you have to request or apply to take the exam four months before you can take it. Is this true?

Yes.

Also when you have to do fingerprints, I know this can take months.

I called a local police station and was in their office within a week getting fingerprinted. They do this all the time for licensing. There is a fee and a list of places to contact at the BRN website. They electronically transmit the results to exactly where you need them to go and if I remember right, they give you a certification that your prints were done that you need to send to the BRN.

Do they issue a temporary license to work if you pass your boards while waiting for your background check?

You get an interim permit to work before you take your test or while you are awaiting your results. This is a one time only permit that last only 6 months (you must take and pass test within 6 months of issuance of permit). The permit allows you to work under the direct supervision of a licensed RN. It expires immediately if you fail the test. I worked on an interim permit for 3 months during which time I took and passed the NCLEX.

Background check takes place during this interim period. You will submit your fingerprints with an application for the permit.

Any info appreciated.

It's all clearly stated and very accessible at the BRN website:

http://www.rn.ca.gov/lic/lic-exam.htm

The information at the website is exactly what your school gives you (hope you took a refresher?). The BRN is where the school gets all that "paperwork."